What Do Ghost Shrimp Need To Live?

[fishwatcher]

I've had lots of ghost shrimp, but they all die within a month or so. What am I doing wrong??? Are they just short-lived creatures or am I killing them?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I've had lots of ghost shrimp, but they all die within a month or so. What am I doing wrong??? Are they just short-lived creatures or am I killing them?

You should actually write down your stocking in your profile or sig, rather than tell people in your profile that such info is in your sig when in reality its a site about abortion .


Anyway, ghost shrimps need;
a. A tank preferably of 5gals or more.
b. A cycled/established habitat to live in (this obviously also means having filtration in the tank, and also dechlorinating the water).
c. A heater to prevent large fluctuations in temp.
d. Tankmates should be peaceful and not bother the shrimp.
e. The shrimp should be fed a good diet.
f. Avoid using meds which contain things like copper in the tank, which will kill shrimp.

 

[fishwatcher]

Oh, sorry about that... it used to be in my sig. Then I kept changing things and got tired of updating it!
I have tried them in both of my ten gallon tanks, there are: harlequins, a dwarf gourami, cherry barbs, cories, sparkling gouramis in them. Both tanks have been up and running for over a year, the temp stays at about 76-78, all stats are stable (0,0, 5). Ph is 6.6. Not sure what I'm doing wrong... there are marble shrimp at the lfs but there $12 each, and I can't see trying out something like that when I can't keep the .30 ones alive, KWIM?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Oh, sorry about that... it used to be in my sig. Then I kept changing things and got tired of updating it!
I have tried them in both of my ten gallon tanks, there are: harlequins, a dwarf gourami, cherry barbs, cories, sparkling gouramis in them. Both tanks have been up and running for over a year, the temp stays at about 76-78, all stats are stable (0,0, 5). Ph is 6.6. Not sure what I'm doing wrong... there are marble shrimp at the lfs but there $12 each, and I can't see trying out something like that when I can't keep the .30 ones alive, KWIM?

Actual Marble shrimp are marine shrimp, so the ones are the lfs can't be those unless you are doing a marine tank at some point.
Did you feed the ghost shrimp anything or provide any cover for them in the tank?

 

[fishwatcher]

yep... all the tanks have lots of live plants and a chunk of driftwood. I've always thrown sinking shrimp pellets in at night as well as making sure other food hits the bottom for them too. Although they've always just climbed up to where I drop the food anyway! Cute lil' buggers!
As for the marble shrimp, they may have been meant for brackish/salt water, as they don't separate their fish out at that store (it's a PetSmart). I guess it's a big no for me on those.